Quality / acronyms brainteaser - Awkward transitions from written to spoken

R

Rob Nix

#1
We in the quality field use a lot of initials and acronyms. When reading articles and posts using acronyms it got me thinking of the sometimes awkward transitions from the written to the spoken acronym. So, In the spirit of a Marilyn vos Savant article, here is an interesting brain teaser for you:

What do the following letters have in common: F H L M N R S and X (and interestingly, for the opposite effect, U)?

HINT: This is an “FYI” clue. :D
 
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howste

Thaumaturge
Super Moderator
#2
My guess is that you use "an" in front of the acronym, but "a" in front of the word spelled out.

Example:
an FMEA
a Failure Mode and Effects Analysis
 

Wes Bucey

Quite Involved in Discussions
#3
howste said:
My guess is that you use "an" in front of the acronym, but "a" in front of the word spelled out.

Example:
an FMEA
a Failure Mode and Effects Analysis
Curiously, I use "a" and pronounce it "fee' muh" as in "a FMEA on the product before we cut metal."

My idea of "acronym" versus "initials" is an acronym is pronounced as a word, while the initials are just named. "SNAFU" versus FAA or FDA.

Back to Rob Nix's poser:
What do the following letters have in common: F H L M N R S and X (and interestingly, for the opposite effect, U)?
I always have to turn the paper upside down, Rob. Please give us the answer by the close of business today. I couldn't stand an entire weekend of not knowing!
 
R

Rob Nix

#4
Howste,

YOU ARE A WINNER! :applause:

Each letter (consonant) when sounded out, begins with a vowel - requiring "an" to precede it; e.g. ef, el, ar, ex. The opposite can be said concerning "U", pronouced "yoo"; e.g. "he saw a UFO ".

There is a whole 'nother subject in the definition of the word "acronym". Does it stand only for words formed from the first letter(s) of several words (e.g. NASA, RADAR, CAD, LASER, NAFTA etc.) or can it also be used for initials pronounced individually (e.g. FBI, CIA, NFL, DOE, FMEA [although some "dyslexics" say "Fema"])?

EDIT: It is just plain scary that my reply and Wes's, which I wasn't aware of when I posted the above, are SO similar. :eek:
 
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Wes Bucey

Quite Involved in Discussions
#6
Rob Nix said:
FMEA [although some "dyslexics" say "Fema"])?

EDIT: It is just plain scary that my reply and Wes's, which I wasn't aware of when I posted the above, are SO similar. :eek:
Does one become dyslexic from psychedelic initials? Do I have DSL- or LSD-induced paranoia about my ability to pronounce words?
 
B

Bill Ryan - 2007

#7
Wes Bucey said:
Curiously, I use "a" and pronounce it "fee' muh" as in "a FMEA on the product before we cut metal."
I flip-flop between saying "fema" and "spelling it out" (must depend on what happened the night before :rolleyes: ). I do get a kick out of people that write the acronym FEMA.

What an enjoyable thread to read through on a Friday afternoon!!!

Hope everyone has a safe and relaxing Labor Day holiday (in the US & Canada) :bigwave:.
 
Q

qualitytrec

#9
Tim Folkerts said:
I suppose it it is big enough failure, the the Federal Emergency Management Adminsitration might be appropriate. :D

Tim F
:lmao: :applause: :applause: :lmao:
Yes I suppose so. Why do so many say fee mah anyway infact why are so many quality acronyms messed up. like ISO when it is International Organization for Standardization. Was the first person to use the abreviated version dyslexic or just not keen on error proofing.
Mark
 
#10
Markasmith said:
like ISO when it is International Organization for Standardization. Was the first person to use the abreviated version dyslexic or just not keen on error proofing.
Good question, but no: There was in fact no dyslexia involved...

"International Organization for Standardization" would have different abbreviations in different languages ("IOS" in English, "OIN" in French for Organisation internationale de normalisation), It was decided to use a word derived from the Greek isos, meaning "equal". Thus, whatever the country, whatever the language, the short form of the organization's name is always ISO.

/Claes
 
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